Wayfair is an American e-commerce company that deals with furniture and house goods. It is known for its sophisticated interview process, which may see you going for a few rounds. Also, expect behavioral and situational questions if you intend to work for them. This article will make your work easier by discussing some of those questions. Take a look.
1. Tell Us About Yourself
This is an opening question in interviews that intends to set the pace. You can talk about your hobbies, interests, relevant experience but do not forget to keep it brief. Also, make sure that you talk about yourself positively. You can even sell yourself if possible.
I am Jason Bright, a software engineer, and development technician. I have been in this field for ten years, working with different fintech and e-commerce companies. I love reading, writing, coding, and playing basketball. I am also passionate about technology and computer systems.
2. What Do You Know About Wayfair?
Did you do your homework well before coming for the interview? Always strive to know as much as possible about an organization if you intend to work there. It shows your enthusiasm about the workplace and passion for the job. Also, ensure that whatever you mention is factual. Avoid coming up with invalid information.
Wayfair is an e-commerce company that specializes in furniture and home goods. It was founded in 2002as CSn stores and has a comprehensive portfolio of brands such as All Modern, Birch Lane, Perigold, Joss and Martin, and Wayfair. (You can also mention that its head office is in Boston, MA)
3. Why Do You Want To Work For Us?
You have definitely realized that this is one of the commonest questions in interviews if you read our articles. There are several things to talk about when answering this question. Just ensure that whatever you mention praises the company.
I love challenges, and Wayfair is the best place to experience them. This environment will help me grow in my career since this is a leading e-commerce retailer. The fact that you won the Boston Business Journal Best Placed to Work is also pretty impressive. Lastly, I admire your contributions to local charities, which have made the world a better place.
4. Why Should We Hire You?
This is where you argue your ‘case.’ You need to sell yourself and convince the interviewer that you are an excellent choice for the given position. Would you please take a look at the job description and identify the skills that align with it? Make sure that your answer convinces the interviewer that you are the solution to whatever problem they have.
I am an experienced software engineer. I have worked in different e-commerce and fintech companies for the last ten years and got to be a first-hand witness to software and technological changes. I can apply everything I have learned for the benefit of your company. I am also a diligent, hardworking, and passionate employee.
5. Why Is There A Gap In Your Resume?
This is not a standard question in interviews. It will only be asked if the interviewer identifies an unaccounted period in your resume. The best approach to this question is honesty. Do not lie to the employer since it may work against you if the real reasons are uncovered. Honesty also communicates integrity and confidence, which you should have when working at Panda Express.
I took a few years off to focus on personal projects and freelancing. I needed more time to start my side business which I couldn’t have if I kept my 9-5 job. I came back as soon as my projects were up and running. (Or you can say that the gap in your resume signifies a time you were in school, doing your Masters or a different course)
6. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?
Are you ambitious and a goal setter? Remember, everybody wants an employee who will push themselves to be better at whatever they do. Having plans for the future tells the interviewer that you are interested in progression and bettering yourself. You can also outline some of the means you intend to take to reach your ambitions. Also, to be safe, look at some of the jobs on the company’s website and identify the one you see yourself doing in five years.
I have spent ten years as a software engineer working in different teams. I would love to try something different and venture into management. I, therefore, see myself leading a software engineering team in your organization in the next five years. However, for now, I am still learning and relearning.
7. What Is Your Greatest Strength?
The interviewer wants to know any skills or experiences that you have. They should be relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Ensure that you review the job description and convince the interviewer that you have everything needed to perform. You should also prepare for any follow-up question that the interviewer deems fit.
I can work well under pressure. I have mastered the art of staying collected when facing huge workloads and keeping a clear, open mind in instances where I need to act fast. Therefore, I will fit in well here if given a chance. ( Also, ensure that you explain how your strength will help you in this particular workplace)
8. Have You Ever Broken Company Rules To Make A Customer Happy?
Organizations are normally mostly okay if you bend the rules to keep customers happy. However, breaking the rules is a different conversation that may not reflect well on you. Wayfair has its policies and procedures that every employee should strive to uphold. All in all, discuss how you feel about making customers happy and what you would do if you needed to break a rule to make it happen.
I haven’t been in a situation where I have to break the rules to keep a customer happy. Most of my employers did not have strict policy enforcement and understood that if we needed to bend the rules, it was for good reasons. However, I am ready to follow all your policies since I find them reasonable. Your company also puts customers first, which means that we won’t have such problems.
9. We Always Want Our Employees To Have Deep Customer Instincts. How Would You ‘Think Like A Customer
The interviewer wants to know if you can put yourself in the customers’ shoes and show empathy. It will also ensure that you are helpful and receptive to their plight. You should also tell the interviewer how thinking like a customer helps you in your job.
I would think about the most significant issue they need to overcome in their home since that’s what Wayfair specializes in. I would then think about the best way of solving it and any problems that may come up. I believe that being a Wayfair customer also gives me a good idea of what one would want.
10. Can You Work In Team Settings?
Wayfair believes in cross-functional working. You should expect to work in teams and collaborate with others from different departments. Therefore, you must have experience working in groups, or else you want to be a good fit for the organization. You can talk about your experience in team settings to convince the interview.
Yes. I have worked in team settings before. I understand just how important collaboration is in the workplace. I have lots of people skills that allow me to be at my best, interact well with others, and find solutions to whatever problems they may be facing.
11. Share With Us The Most Difficult Problem You Had To Solve In Your Previous Workplace
The interviewer wants to know if you are a problem solver and are in an excellent position to solve the issues you may encounter while working at Wayfair. Only mention a problem that is relevant to the role you are interviewing for. You can talk about a problem you successfully solved or one that you couldn’t but taught you an important lesson.
I once had a difficult customer who kept me explaining things for an hour straight. She didn’t want to make up her mind and even got mad at some point when I kept asking her questions. She wasn’t friendly and gave me a pretty hard time. I managed to stay relaxed and professional all through our interaction and lastly helped her get the right product. Luckily, my supervisor saw whatever was happening and didn’t demonize me for spending a great deal of time on one customer only.
12. Have You Ever Struggled To Communicate Something To A Coworker? Tell Us More
Communication is essential, especially when working in team settings. You need to relay information well and ensure that it reaches the target audience. There are several situations you can talk about when handling this question. However, do not makeup scenarios since a follow-up question can quickly reveal that you are lying.
I once had a difficult time communicating something to an employee that he didn’t enjoy hearing about. I told him to remake something he had spent days working on, and he wasn’t impressed. I communicated the issue sensitively after picking the right time and explained my reasons to the best of my ability. He finally understood and remade it.
13. Tell Us About A Time That You Couldn’t Meet A Deadline At Work
You should strive to analyze the situation as much as possible. Avoid saying that the deadline was unrealistic as you may come off as lazy or irresponsible. Be honest and explain to the interviewer what happened, the things that slowed you down, and your reasons for not meeting the deadline. Remember, you are a human being and not a robot, meaning that such things are always bound to happen.
I was once working on a project whose deadline was moved forward midway. I tried my best and even worked overtime, but given the project’s scope, I couldn’t complete it on time. Luckily, I got a chance to explain myself and, with the help of my immediate manager, got a few more days to complete the job.
14. Share With Us About A Time When You Improved A Process At Work
Hiring managers will always be on the lookout for your attitude since it is crucial. It doesn’t have to be something groundbreaking, so stop overthinking. All in all, convince the interviewer that you usually strive to improve instead of sitting pretty in your comfort zone. Make sure that the example is related to the job at hand.
I used to come to work and immediately go about my duties. It worked for some time, but I started getting overwhelmed. I decided to plan myself better by maintaining a daily planner, which helped me schedule tasks. I became more organized and did my job more efficiently.
15. Share With Us A Conflict You Once Had With A Colleague
You should expect a question about a conflict situation when interviewing at Wayfair. Most of these include conflicts with superiors, colleagues, and customers, even though you may find yourself in an internal conflict. Do not play the blame game and talk about a constructive conflict. Tell the interviewer what you did to solve the issue and show humility if possible.
I once disagreed with my supervisor on how to go about a given task. Her way was riskier and therefore put me in harm’s way. I tabled a better alternative and clearly described how it would help us get the same results. She agreed, and we did it my way. We achieved even better results with less danger.
16. Mention Some Of The Ideas You Have Come Up With That Benefitted Your Employer
Wayfair values innovation, change, team collaboration, and a good working environment. The interviewer will therefore want to know if you’ve ever used your creativity to benefit your employer. Your answer should show that you are highly engaged when it comes to working.
I consider myself a creator by nature. I am always thinking of all the ways I can benefit the organization and improve its processes. In my former job, I saw that the new employees were struggling to catch up with us and therefore took it upon myself to teach and equip them with the information they needed to succeed in the job. My manager realized and even furnished me with additional training equipment.
17. What Does Great Customer Service Mean To You?
Like any great restaurant chain out there, Wayfair also values its customers. You must therefore be ready to serve and make them feel appreciated. Your definition of customer service will tell the interviewer whether you will be a good fit in the organization and even boost customer loyalty.
Excellent customer service is making customers feel appreciated and giving them all the assistance they need. It involves going out of your way to make the customers happy and satisfied. (You can list all the activities that make customers happy and satisfied)
18. We May Require You To Attend Tradeshows. Do You Have Any Restrictions?
Working for Wayfair may require you to travel from place to place attending tradeshows. You should therefore come clean and tell the interviewer whether you will have any travel restrictions. Make sure that you are honest to prevent future disappointments that no one wants.
I am not restricted in any way when it comes to traveling and attending tradeshows. I live alone, which makes me highly flexible. I can therefore travel for days without worrying about anything.
19. How Would You React If A Supervisor Is Dissatisfied With Your Work?
The interviewer wants to know how you react to feedback. Will you be mad, angry, or disappointed, or will you see it as a chance to improve and be better at whatever you do? Convince the interviewer that you are open to feedback and wouldn’t mind an honest assessment of your job.
I love feedback since they allow me to know what I should work on. I would take it positively and inquire about areas that I should work on. I would then put my foot forward and work on bettering myself.
20. Do You Know About Our Values?
These are some of the critical information you should know about a prospective employer. Can you mention this establishment’s core values? Find out as much information as possible about Wayfair before attending their interviews. Also, tell the interviewer if you don’t know instead of making up your things.
Your core values include honesty, teamwork, innovation, transparency, and a winning mentality.
Conclusion
Make sure that you have the answer to these questions at your fingertips before attending a Wayfair interview. Remember, the purpose of this article is to help you land the job you are interviewing for.
